Hughenden Boutique Hotel

One of Sydney's most quietly distinguished stays, the Hughenden is a Victorian mansion dating to 1878 — marble fireplaces, a grand original staircase, servant bells still intact — tucked into the leafy, gallery-lined streets of Woollahra. It's the kind of hotel that feels genuinely lived-in rather than designed to impress, and that extends to its approach to dogs: no fuss, no theatrics, just a warm welcome in one of the city's most walk-friendly neighbourhoods.

Complimentary breakfast is included with every room, and pet-friendly rooms come with food and water bowls plus a souvenir foldable water bowl to take home.

The real draw for dog owners is location — Centennial Parklands off-leash area sits directly across the road, one of the largest and best-loved dog exercise spaces in Sydney. Oxford Street's cafes and restaurants are also around the corner.